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Jesus the Mexican Vampire Hunter
Jesus Hector Guerrero’s life as a vampire hunter, as it is with most vigilante heroes, was born out of tragedy. Jesus' background in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, as well as his use of anabolic steroids, have helped to keep him alive, but he knows that every night on the hunt may very well be his last.
This vampire short is a chapter from Martin Lastrapes’ forthcoming novel.
This vampire short is a chapter from Martin Lastrapes’ forthcoming novel.
11 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 20, 2012
About the author
Martin Lastrapes
11 books129 followersMARTIN LASTRAPES is an acclaimed author and indie publisher known for his imaginative storytelling and signature humor. His works often explore unconventional characters, such as teenage cannibals, unicorn-killing superheroes, and fireproof college professors. His published works have earned numerous literary accolades, including the Grand Prize at the Paris Book Festival and the Gold Prize at the Self-Publishing Review Book Awards. A native of the Inland Empire in California (where he earned a Bachelor's degree in English and a Master's degree in Composition) he now calls Las Vegas home.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 17, 2012
I think it's safe to say that I am a massive fan of Lastrapes writing.
This short story is just simply wonderful. Wonderful and utterly weird. Despite only being 11 pages long this story certainly packs a punch and offers the reader so much more than a one-dimensional character and linear plot. The entire thing is so vivid and constructed so well that it makes me want the full length novel NOW!
This short story is just simply wonderful. Wonderful and utterly weird. Despite only being 11 pages long this story certainly packs a punch and offers the reader so much more than a one-dimensional character and linear plot. The entire thing is so vivid and constructed so well that it makes me want the full length novel NOW!
July 19, 2012
(Since I read Martin Lastrapes' two Vampire shorts--"Adam & Olivia" and "Jesus: The Mexican Vampire Hunter"--concurrently, I am discussing both in one review posted for each story.)
For a variety of reasons (and despite being an author of fiction), I read almost exclusively non-fiction; with that said, it takes a masterful writer of fiction to pique my interest in their work, and Martin Lastrapes' short fiction, "Adam & Olivia" and "Jesus: The Mexican Vampire Hunter," certainly accomplished that difficult task. I also knew that "Adam & Olivia" and "Jesus: The Mexican Vampire" are from a genre that I typically shy away from, yet I was amazed at how quickly these stories sucked me in (no pun intended); the superlative narrative, the intensity, the excitement, the fluidity of Lastrapes' words is addicting, and his descriptions and character details--the nuances of their lives--are refreshingly vivid, crisp, eloquent and entertaining.
I also enjoyed the pop culture references throughout both stories. An example: in "Adam & Olivia," we are presented with Olivia's love for both WWF wrestling and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the former being a subject near and dear to my heart, the latter being a program I know only generally. In circumstances like this, it's quite easy to alienate, bog down readers if they are uninterested in the references, but in this instance, Lastrapes interjects the nostalgic reflections into Olivia's past so smoothly, so casually, describing both--WWF and Buffy--with obvious love and affection, that they work perfectly much like a good allusion (which should be entertaining even if the reader doesn't get the inside joke).
The author's introduction indicates the two stories are chapters from a forthcoming novel which can be read individually, and this is very true; the "self contained" aspects of the shorts allow them to stand alone while simultaneously hinting at a larger tale. Personally, I'm quite fond of this technique: a short story (or chapter or in this case, both) that concludes in such a way wherein the narrative can either end or continue... Despite the "self contained" method in which they are currently presented, "Adam & Olivia" and "Jesus" are great companion pieces; they interlock when read back-to-back (regardless of which is read first), and with the established groundwork in these two shorts, I look forward to reading the novel in totality.
In closing (again, as someone particular about fiction), Lastrapes' work reminds me of the addictively haunting and dark prose of Tim O'Brien, a rare author who can turn a scene of intense sadness and/or horror into a peculiar scene of beauty; Lastrapes possesses this same ability and talent.
For a variety of reasons (and despite being an author of fiction), I read almost exclusively non-fiction; with that said, it takes a masterful writer of fiction to pique my interest in their work, and Martin Lastrapes' short fiction, "Adam & Olivia" and "Jesus: The Mexican Vampire Hunter," certainly accomplished that difficult task. I also knew that "Adam & Olivia" and "Jesus: The Mexican Vampire" are from a genre that I typically shy away from, yet I was amazed at how quickly these stories sucked me in (no pun intended); the superlative narrative, the intensity, the excitement, the fluidity of Lastrapes' words is addicting, and his descriptions and character details--the nuances of their lives--are refreshingly vivid, crisp, eloquent and entertaining.
I also enjoyed the pop culture references throughout both stories. An example: in "Adam & Olivia," we are presented with Olivia's love for both WWF wrestling and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the former being a subject near and dear to my heart, the latter being a program I know only generally. In circumstances like this, it's quite easy to alienate, bog down readers if they are uninterested in the references, but in this instance, Lastrapes interjects the nostalgic reflections into Olivia's past so smoothly, so casually, describing both--WWF and Buffy--with obvious love and affection, that they work perfectly much like a good allusion (which should be entertaining even if the reader doesn't get the inside joke).
The author's introduction indicates the two stories are chapters from a forthcoming novel which can be read individually, and this is very true; the "self contained" aspects of the shorts allow them to stand alone while simultaneously hinting at a larger tale. Personally, I'm quite fond of this technique: a short story (or chapter or in this case, both) that concludes in such a way wherein the narrative can either end or continue... Despite the "self contained" method in which they are currently presented, "Adam & Olivia" and "Jesus" are great companion pieces; they interlock when read back-to-back (regardless of which is read first), and with the established groundwork in these two shorts, I look forward to reading the novel in totality.
In closing (again, as someone particular about fiction), Lastrapes' work reminds me of the addictively haunting and dark prose of Tim O'Brien, a rare author who can turn a scene of intense sadness and/or horror into a peculiar scene of beauty; Lastrapes possesses this same ability and talent.
August 20, 2012
It's no lie that I am a huge fan of Martin Lastrapes since his debut novel, Inside the Outside. This short story (1 of 2 Vampire shorts released) is amazing. I am relieved to know that these two shorts are actually the first two chapters of an upcoming vampire novel. I don't want to give anything away since it is a short story, but I will tell you that you wil love the world he weaves and his newest character Jesus is so complex and intriguing, just in a few short pages you become engrossed in his story. I can't wait for the novel!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews